The goblin woke screaming, howling as the flesh of his chest seared and burned; he'd be struggling and flailing if his legs and arms weren't bound with thick vines.

Steal was lay on his back, being dragged across the grass by his ankles by the elf that had beaten him bloody. Small rocks cut thin lines in his skin as the goblin was yanked roughly every time one of his limbs caught on a root or snagged on a thorny bush.

He could hear something up ahead, the creature certainly wasn't in the clearing that he'd fought in, the trees had closed in, and the grass was green here, not scarlet.

The little goblin's neck ached as he tried to move it, muscles groaning as thin lines of blood cast a number of winding red trails behind him. To his left, trees. To his right, some more trees.

No Kor'Ak.

No Kelvin.

Just him and his captor.

He struggled and shrieked until his throat turned raw and his bound wrists bled.

He'd have been happier hearing nothing but his own howls than hear the voice of his most recent acquaintance bounce around in his skull.

Hey there, I know you're likely extremely angry or scared. Well, here's the deal. I understand that you're in pain, so, how about I help you out? I did promise to make you stronger after all.

Steal merely spat onto the dirt and continued to bumble and growl unintelligible, goblinoid gibberish.

Oh... yeah you can't actually reply to me.

It didn't matter that the goblin couldn't, he didn't want to reply to this strange man.

He'd done nothing but hurt the goblin, he hadn't gotten any stronger. Steal didn't understand the concept of help in the long-term, the man from his dream had done nothing to help him yet, even though he had promised. The dream man was just a liar in Steal's eyes.

Let's see... Okay I have an idea. One second.

You can now learn the 'Warlock (Unholy)' Job

Do you accept?

[YES] [NO]

Steal stopped struggling for a moment. As he tried to wrap his head around the message in his head. Though Maal seemed determined to not give him enough time to think.

You should say yes.

Do it.

Yes.

Yes.

YES!

Steal howled out again, his captor looked behind her as the goblin started struggling again, and yanked harder, speeding up as she moved from a leisurely walk to a jog along the forest floor, shaking Steal's small body about as her bare, filthy feet carried her forwards, the still-struggling goblin in tow.

"Gyaka!"

The goblin was furious, angry and hurt. He wouldn't listen to the dream man, he wouldn't do what he wanted.

I'll take that as a yes then?

"Gyaka!!!!"

Steal was screaming now, the taste of copper filled his throat as his raw throat bled in protest to the goblin's howls and shrieks. He would not accept.

Okay, guess that really does mean a yes, understood. No problem little guy.

You have gained the 'Warlock (Unholy)' Job

STR +1,DEX +2,AGI +1,FRT +1,INT +2,WIS +3

You have gained the 'Magical Aptitude (Minor)' Trait

You have gained the 'Unholy Communion' Skill

Unholy Communion Is Level 1

You have gained the 'Daemon Bolt' Spell

Daemon Bolt Is Level 1

You have gained the 'Summon Familiar' Spell

Summon Familiar Is Level 1

You have gained the 'Daemon-Tongue' Trait

Daemon-Tongue Is Level 1

You have gained the 'Bloodfuel' Skill

Bloodfuel Is Level 1

Ah, and here's a little extra, just as an apology.

You have gained the 'Aptitude (Warlock)' Trait

Aptitude (Warlock) Is Level 1

If it wasn't for the fact that Steal could smell and see the flesh of his chest searing and boiling, the goblin might actually have believed that something good was coming to him from Maal.

Naturally, the screaming didn't stop.

The elf turned again, eyes locking on the centre of Steal's chest as she saw a crimson brand she'd previously not notice glow red and burst into flame along the goblins skin.

Steal noticed her through his blurry, tear-eyed vision. She let go of his ankles and kneeled beside him as he writhed and squirmed. He could barely hear her muttering to herself about 'saving the bargaining chip' as she pulled a leather waterskin from her side and dumped the clear contents onto the goblin's chest.

The second the water touched the flame it turned to steam, the small flame still roaring. Then, in an instant, the flame was gone, the pain that had previously coursed through every part of Steal was simply gone. Like it had never hurt at all.

The only evidence that anything had happened to the goblin was the brand on his chest, more clear, deeper and larger than before.

Maal wasn't speaking to him anymore. The man had gone silent in his head. Though Steal could feel him, watching, smiling.

The silence broke.

Now the man in his head was laughing.

Wow. Just wow, I am honestly, suprised you're still conscious. Okay. So, I get your're pretty angry, that must have hurt alot, sorta the point, it's sorta funny, probably not for you, is for me. Here's the thing, I said I would make you stronger, and I have no intention of lying to you, see, you're already stronger. Aren't you gonna thank me?

Steal continued to spout and growl out profanities until Maal's smooth voice bounced around in his head again.

Why do I always contract the stupid ones. Alright, alright... Use Unholy Communion, you don't have to say it, just think it. Trust me.

Steal screeched out a little as the elf had begun to hold him down, she was far stronger than Steal and wasn't finding much difficulty keeping him pinned as she inspected the mark on his chest. Unknown to her, it wasn't her that the goblin was screaming and struggling against.

Seriously, just do it, you're starting to annoy me.

The voice in his head was met with more angry howls.

Alright, do it or I'm just gonna set you on fire and leave you to turn into a giant green brisket.

The screaming stopped.

Steal didn't want to die.

Greenie-Boi-23 Umm, what is this? Maal_The_Magnificient_69 The Unholy Communion Skill, the thing I gave you? The skill I told you to think about? It lets us communicate mentally from anywhere. Well, I can do that anyways, with pretty much anyone.

You can pretty much only talk to me with this, since I'm your Patron. Greenie-Boi-23 I don't think I'll use this thing a lot if I have to talk to you. Greenie-Boi-23 What is a Patron? Maal_The_Magnificient_69 Basically it's a being that gives you special powers, gods, demons, spirits, that sorta stuff. I gave you powers, so I'm your patron. Greenie-Boi-23 So how will you make me stronger? Maal_The_Magnificient_69 Little bits of my power when I feel like giving it, I'm not really in yhe giving mood right now. Greenie-Boi-23 I want all your power, why won't you give me a lot? Greenie-Boi-23 Oh, also, 'the'* Maal_The_Magnificient_69 1. If I gave you a lot of power, you would literally explode. Do you want to explode into tiny little chunks of meat? Want this forest to look like someone threw a can of 'Goblin-Brand Canned Dog Food' all over it? Maal_The_Magnificient_69 2. I'm having a literally infinite number of conversations right now in infinite dimensions with an infinite number of people. Of course there are going to be typos!!!!! Greenie-Boi-23 No need to yell... Hey why does it say 'Greenie-Boi-23' whenever I think of talking to you? Maal_The_Magnificient_69 It's your username, I picked it for you, doesn't really matter for the time being. Greenie-Boi-23 Umm... Okay... Can you tell me where the humans I was with are? Maal_The_Magnificient_69 Nope. Greenie-Boi-23 Why not? Maal_The_Magnificient_69 Well I can tell you, I'm just not going to... Tell you what, if you reach Level 5 as a Warlock, I'll do it, ask me again before then, and there's not a chance. Greenie-Boi-23 Okay... Guess I'll have to reach Level 5 then... Maal_The_Magnificient_69 Yeah, yes you will, I gave you Aptitude as a little gift so it will go a bit faster though, do what I tell you, when I tell you and you'll reach it in record time. Greenie-Boi-23 So, since you're my Patron, you get to decide when I get stronger and level up, seems unfair. Maal_The_Magnificient_69 Yup, completely unfair. Greenie-Boi-23 You said that some Patrons are gods, demons and spirits, are you a Demon? Because I got skills with Daemon in their name. Maal_The_Magnificient_69 Oof, I'm suddenly reeeeeeeeeeeally super tired, guess I'm just gonna go. Greenie-Boi-23 You're a Demon then? Maal_The_Magnificient_69 Loaded question little green dude, you should really try out that Summon Familiar Skill BTW Greenie-Boi-23 Why won't you say you're a Demon? Maal_The_Magnificient_69 It's a matter of perspective. USER: Maal_The_Magnificent_69 Has Disconnected.

"GYAK!"